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After acquittal of ex-death row inmate, debate needed on Japan's death penalty

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Japan should be ensuring the safety of its citizens, but instead it is taking people's lives. Is it acceptable to maintain the ultimate penalty under such circumstances? This is a serious question for society. The acquittal of 88-year-old Iwao Hakamada, who had been handed the death penalty, has been finalized after prosecutors decided not to appeal the verdict issued by the Shizuoka District Court during his retrial.

At Least Five Prisoners Hanged in Iran

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Five of the eight prisoners who were scheduled to be executed in the Rajaishahr prison of Karaj (west of Tehran) were hanged this morning. One of the prisoners was pardoned and execution of two other prisoners was postponed. At least 73 prisoners have been executed in different Iranian prisons in May 2014.

Iran Human Rights, May 19, 2014: Five prisoners, charged with murder, were hanged in the Rajaishahr prison of Karaj early Monday morning May 19, according to reliable sources Iran Human Rights (IHR) has been in contact with.

Two of the prisoners are identified as “Hamid Abdi” and “Seyed Mohammad Hosseini”, both from ward 2 of Rajaishahr.

Execution of two other prisoners was postponed, while one prisoner was pardoned by the family of the offended.

So far in May 2014 at least 73 prisoners have been executed in Iran. 32 of the executions have been announced by the official Iranian sources, and at least 41 executions have been confirmed by the human rights groups.

Source: Iran Human Rights, May 19, 2014
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